The following are the two major parties' platform planks on Cuba:

 REPUBLICAN

 ``In Cuba, Fidel Castro continues to impose communist economic controls and
 absolute political repression of 11 million Cubans. His regime harasses and jails
 dissidents, restricts economic activity, and forces Cubans into the sea in a
 desperate bid for freedom. He gives refuge to fugitives from American justice,
 hosts a sophisticated Russian espionage facility that intercepts U.S. government
 and private communications, and has ordered his air force to shoot down two
 unarmed U.S. civilian airplanes thereby killing American citizens.

 ``U.S. policy toward Cuba should be based upon sound, clear principles. Our
 economic and political relations will change when the Cuban regime frees all
 prisoners of conscience, legalizes peaceful protest, allows opposition political
 activity, permits free expression and commits to democratic elections. This policy
 will be strengthened by active American support for Cuban dissidents. Under no
 circumstances should Republicans support any subsidy of Castro's Cuba or any
 other terrorist state.

 ``Republicans also support a continued effort to promote freedom and democracy
 by communicating objective and uncensored news and information to the Cuban
 people via U.S. broadcasts to the captive island. Finally, Republicans believe that
 the United States should adhere to the principles established by the 1966 Cuban
 Adjustment Act . . .''

 DEMOCRATIC

 ``We aim to rededicate ourselves to the defense of democracy in the Americas at
 a moment when it is being brought into question in Peru and absent on the island
 of Cuba. . . . We will continue to press for human rights, the rule of law and
 political freedom.

 ``To accomplish this, we need the right tools. Al Gore and the Democratic Party
 support continued funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, Radio
 Liberty, Radio Europe, Radio Free Asia, Radio Marti, and other efforts to promote
 democracy and the free flow of ideas.''